How to choose linoleum for underfloor heating
The system “warm floor” makes the house cozy and comfortable. Underfloor heating can be several types, depending on this chosen and the final coating. Linoleum for underfloor heating is still one of the best coatings. It is durable, easy to install and clean, and most importantly. affordable. What linoleum to choose for different types of warm flooring, what properties should have such a floor covering? The answer is given by the online store Tricolor.
Modern linoleum: classification of the material and its physical and mechanical characteristics
To date, there are many varieties of linoleum coating.
- Depending on the origin of the material it is divided into: natural and PVC (vinyl). In turn, vinyl coverings in the class of durability can be designed for: residential, public, industrial premises.
- Taking into account the number of layers are: homogeneous (single-layer) and heterogeneous (multilayer) linoleum.
The basis of the floor covering may also be different: felt, jute, polyester, foamed PVC (the most common option).
Based on the above, each type of linoleum has specific physical and mechanical characteristics. These include:
- color stability;
- endurance before mechanical influences;
- The presence of antistatic properties;
- ignitability;
- Compatibility with underfloor heating.
It is the last two points of interest in the context of this article.
So, let’s talk in detail about natural and vinyl linoleum.
Natural linoleum
Natural flooring is called marmoleum and consists of all-natural components. This can include ground cork, lime powder, linseed oil, pine resin and dyes of natural origin.
In addition to high environmental performance of this material is characterized by fire resistance, antistatic, resistance to wear and tear. Even when significantly heated, it is not able to release harmful substances into the air, because it simply does not contain them. A significant disadvantage of marmoleum. the high price per square meter, which can be an obstacle to many people before buying.
You should also know that this type of linoleum should not be heated above 27 ° C, because it will soften and lose its shape, and this can lead to irreparable deformation. That is why it is necessary to have a floor heating thermostat with Marmoleum and always monitor its performance, preventing overheating of the material. The optimal power of the equipment. up to 60 W/m².
Vinyl Linoleum
Vinyl linoleum is more common among the general population. It is much cheaper than natural coating, characterized by high performance, has a wide range of colors and patterns. If you choose a specific type of vinyl flooring, the semi-commercial models, designed for use in public areas, are suitable for warm floors. In contrast to the household, they are more durable, and in comparison with the industrial, they are made of hypoallergenic safe materials.
Also, when underfloor heating should not buy products with thermal insulation backing (jute, felt). This will greatly reduce the thermal conductivity of linoleum. It is better to choose a material based on vinyl or polyester foam.
An important point to be prepared for is a specific synthetic odor of the flooring. It will be felt in the first few weeks after installation, especially if it is heated from below. Do not be alarmed by such a situation, but it is important to monitor the performance of the heating system. Heating of the flooring should not exceed a temperature of 30 ° C. If the pungent smell in normal operating conditions does not stop even after a long time, you should think about the quality of the purchased product and possibly the need to get rid of it.
Thus, before you lay linoleum on a warm floor, you should always be familiar with the labeling of the material. Manufacturers clearly indicate whether the product is suitable for this type of room heating, and what temperature limits it can withstand. Otherwise you will irrevocably ruin the decorative coating or even provoke the release of harmful volatile compounds from it.
What kinds of linoleum can be used?
We are used to thinking of linoleum as a thin vinyl flooring that is dominated by chemical components. But this is not entirely true. On today’s market there are 5 groups of this material:
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- Natural (Marmoleum). a completely safe, natural material, which is durable, fire-resistant, antistatic;
- PVC (vinyl) linoleum is the most popular and inexpensive, when heated it can exude an unpleasant odor;
- alkyd (glyphthalic). produced on a fabric base, has high thermal insulation properties. Over time (especially when heated) can noticeably deform;
- Nitrocellulose (colloxylin). thin single-layer material with good moisture resistance, but a significant disadvantage. rapid flammability;
- Rubber (Relin). two-layer linoleum, which has in its composition of particles of rubber, bitumen, synthetic rubber. Does not tolerate heat and is rarely used in residential areas.
Judging by these characteristics, not all types of linoleum is suitable for installation on a warm base. The best choice is natural linoleum, slightly less so PVC Linoleum. Alkyd, nitrocellulose and rubber materials for coating on heated substrates are rarely used.
Option #1 natural marmoleum
If you can afford the budget, give preference to natural linoleum. It is made of natural components: linseed oil, pine resin, ground cork, lime powder, natural dyes. Accordingly, when heated, this type of linoleum is not able to emit harmful substances. And this is the most important argument in favor of linoleum as a coating for a warm floor. In addition to absolute safety, natural linoleum in the heating fully retains its size and does not deform. It is fire resistant and in case of fire does not contribute to the spread of fire. Marmoleum does not change its color over time and does not fade in the sun.
Option #2 vinyl linoleum (PVC)
Marmoleum, although it is good, but not yet too common in our shelves. Therefore, if you can not find it, you can “do with little blood” buy a linoleum PVC for a warm floor. It is best to use for this purpose is not a household, and the commercial or semi-commercial kinds, which are more durable and have better performance properties. Avoid insulating material right away. It will impede the flow of heat from the heating elements in the room, thus significantly reducing the efficiency of the underfloor heating system. Choose a linoleum with a thin fabric base or without it at all. Using vinyl linoleum, be aware of its synthetic origin. The first time when heated, even high-quality vinyl exudes an unpleasant odor, which disappears after a few weeks.
What linoleum to choose for underfloor heating?
Linoleum universal coating, which are chosen for laying in the home and in crowded rooms. The popularity of the coating is due to a number of performance characteristics that allow the use of coating in places with high load and humidity. Thanks to the wear resistance, antistatic, reliability and resistance to temperature differences linoleum flooring in medical, educational, recreational and sports facilities. In residential apartments, offices, offices and other areas often install a system of floor heating. In this regard, buyers ask. Is it possible to lay linoleum on the warm floor?
Features
Compared with many types of flooring, linoleum has a number of distinctive features. To begin with, it is worth mentioning that the material has quite high quality performance characteristics. One of the main advantages of linoleum is the ease of installation process. Including this applies to installation on a warm floor.
Linoleum is easy to care for, in comparison with many common floor coverings. That is why this material is often used for rooms with high traffic. To clean linoleum does not need to use special expensive detergents, as is the case with parquet or laminate.
The peculiarity of some types of this flooring is the presence of a special water- and dirt-repellent impregnation. Thanks to this surface is not affected by moisture.
It is worth noting that when using linoleum for underfloor heating you can not worry about the fact that the material will deform or lose its properties.
On a quality coating temperature effects do not affect, which can be identified as one of its main advantages.
Choosing linoleum for underfloor heating, you should familiarize yourself with the main types of this flooring. It is worth noting that each option has individual features and technical characteristics.
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The first and highest quality species is a natural linoleum. Often it is referred to as Marmoleum, but this does not change its technical properties. The material is characterized by absolute safety, because it is based exclusively on natural components. The characteristic properties of this type can include durability and antistaticity.
But experts are still debating whether to apply such a variant for a warm water floor. The material is susceptible to the negative effects of moisture and is also able to deform under the influence of temperature.
The next option is PVC linoleum, which is considered the most common and budget option. Flooring has a decent performance qualities, which explains the incredible demand among buyers. But this kind is not recommended for underfloor heating. This is due to the fact that when heated, the flooring emits not too pleasant smell.
Another common option is alkyd linoleum, the feature of which is a fabric base. The advantage of the coating is that it has good thermal insulation properties. But this is not the most suitable option for a floor with heating, as the material deforms when heated.
Another popular type is rubber linoleum, which consists of two layers. Immediately it is worth mentioning that the coating does not tolerate heat. This linoleum is rarely used in apartments and houses.
Considering all of the above characteristics of coatings, we can conclude that not all options are suitable for laying on a warm base. The most suitable type is natural material. In second place are PVC-floors.
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All other options are rather rarely used for installation not a warm system on the floor.
Is such a combination possible
In most cases, the floor heating is combined with other materials, such as laminate, but linoleum is not a bad option. Of course, on the subject of the combination there are many disputes, because someone speaks positively about it, and someone is sure that to put linoleum on the warm floor categorically impossible, as it will have a negative impact on the health of the whole family. But after a detailed study of all the negative and positive reviews, we can confidently say that the combination of underfloor heating and linoleum has a right to be, and all possible problems arise solely from the wrong choice of material or mistakes during installation.
Please note! To no problems after the installation of linoleum should not arise, take the choice of material with great responsibility, because not all types of linoleum available manufacturers recommend laying in a room with a warm floor.
What to choose linoleum for underfloor heating
Types of linoleum, both on the characteristics and design are many and quite difficult to make the right choice of a good linoleum suitable for underfloor heating.
By type, linoleum is divided into commercial, semi-commercial and household. They differ from each other by the thickness of the protective layer and the overall thickness. Also, linoleum is a natural and artificial, based on PVC.
For a warm floor more suitable semi-commercial and natural linoleum. Commercial linoleum is also well suited for underfloor heating, but is more expensive than the semi-commercial, and the characteristics do not differ much, so there is no sense to overpay.
Semi-commercial linoleum is made on the basis of PVC. Although most manufacturers have brought their products into line with all environmental standards and produce PVC Linoleum fully environmentally friendly, some people are still afraid to use it for heated floors. In this case, you can use natural linoleum or, as it is also called, Marmoleum for underfloor heating. This flooring is made entirely of natural components and is the most environmentally friendly possible.
Linoleum also differs and “layer”. There is a homogeneous linoleum (single-layer) and heterogeneous (multilayer). To the homogeneous include natural linoleum, some types of commercial and semi-commercial linoleum.
For a warm floor, it is better to choose a semi-commercial homogeneous linoleum or, again, natural, it is always. homogeneous. The reason is primarily because of the thickness, homogeneous linoleum is thinner than heterogeneous, and this is very important for the thermal conductivity of a warm floor.
What linoleum to choose for a warm floor?
What is the best linoleum for underfloor heating? In fact, there are several options. First of all, you should pay attention to the natural marmoleum, which is made exclusively from natural components, which means that when heated, the air will not emit harmful substances. In addition, Marmoleum in the heating is not deformed, and it has increased fire resistance. This type of linoleum keeps its original color for a long time and does not fade even in direct sunlight.
Another good option for warm floors will be vinyl linoleum (PVC). Experts recommend buying commercial or semi-commercial linoleum for our purposes, not domestic, as it has better characteristics. For example, you can pay attention to the linoleum Tarkett, which has recently become quite popular among Ukrainians. The only disadvantage of PVC Linoleum is that it contains synthetic materials, which for the first few weeks after use can release unpleasant odors. But over time, it passes.
You should also understand that the substrate under the linoleum is an additional insulating layer, which will not normally pass heat from the floor, which means that the substrate should be abandoned.
The most common version of the material that is used with a warm floor. laminate or ceramic tile. But these types of coating are quite expensive, not everyone can afford to buy them. Most consumers still choose linoleum.
Linoleum. a practical and durable material, which has many advantages, ranging from versatility to the relative cheapness. Among consumers there is the opinion that it is not completely harmless to people living in the house or apartment because of its chemical composition.
That is why many people consider it doubtful to use in combination with electric heating elements. Some people think that under the influence of heat, the substances in the composition begins to evaporate, and harmful to health. Changes in temperature can also affect the structure of the material, which over time, in the experience of some consumers, loses its shape.
Experts have a different point of view. They believe that the negative feedback regarding its use with electric flooring is not seriously justified. The reason for the bad experience lies in the wrong type of material and the wrong laying technique.
